Media contributions
1Media contributions
Title Painful management procedures must be addressed for the future of swine farming Degree of recognition International Media name/outlet The Pig Site Media type Web Country/Territory United Kingdom Date 7/02/19 Description UK and European animal welfare researchers investigating the expression of pain in pigs discuss working together in an ever-changing industry to tackle the challenges faced when ensuring high standards of health and welfare are met in pig herds.
Certain procedures implemented in the production of pigs for meat can cause immediate and prolonged pain in the animal, which makes these procedures controversial in the matter of animal welfare. Routine tail docking and teeth clipping are performed to control for certain damaging behaviours elicited in groups of pigs that are unable to express natural foraging and rooting and where competition for space and food is high.
It is argued that ongoing outbreaks of damaging behaviour are largely observed in barren, intensive systems, and are a symptom of whole-system issues: a theory to which modern swine welfare research can attest. The translation of such research into on-farm practices that are both cost- and time-efficient is a challenge, and something that academics worldwide are striving to achieve.
The Pig Site speaks to researchers, Dr Dale Sandercock (Scotland’s Rural College), Dr Mette S. Herskin (Aarhus University) and Dr Pierpaolo Di Giminiani (Newcastle University), about issues related to pain-inducing swine management procedures and the future of welfare science on farms.Producer/Author Emily Houghton URL https://thepigsite.com/articles/painful-management-procedures-must-be-addressed-for-the-future-of-swine-farming Persons Dale Sandercock, Mette Herskin, Pierpaolo Di Giminiani
Keywords
- Animal welfare
- Pig
- Pig production
- Tail docking
- Tail biting
- Pain
- Environmental enrichment
- Painful procedures